The Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally is fast approaching with a large number of crews participating in the event’s official testing session on Thursday morning.
Held over two stages just outside Coffs Harbour, the crews were putting in some solid times as they were preparing for the RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship season finale.
Some of the notable inclusions for the event’s official testing session were title contenders in Lewis Bates, Richie Dalton and Harry Bates, 2017 ARC champion Nathan Quinn, Luke Anear, Taylor Gill, Troy Dowel, Alex and Peter Rullo and Max McRae.
With the event also hosting the final round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), New Zealand star Hayden Paddon took part in the session, as he gears up for his maiden APRC title.
Speaking to media after testing, Paddon was excited to get the event underway in the hopes of securing a title that has previously eluded him.
“It’s been too long since we have been here. We have gotten progressively better which with sixth in 2014 and then second when we were last here, so we have one spot to try and fill,” Paddon said.
“Some good memories here. Always a favourite rally. Bit of pressure being a shootout for the APRC and it means we have to focus on a clean rally with no issues.
“We have made a big commitment to come here. It’s (APRC) a championship we haven’t been able to win. The late great Possum Bourne was successful at it, so it means a lot to us to win.
“At the end of the day, it’s a FIA title. It’s not going to be easy. This field is very fast. There are lots of facets to make sure we have a successful weekend.”
Click here for more information on the rally.
The Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally takes place in and around the forests of the Coffs Coast on 25-27 November.
